# The Shooting of Ralph Yarl in Kansas City (he knocked on the wrong door) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803 "2023-04-17T16:00:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/1 "2023-04-17T16:00:34Z")
A Black teen, Ralph Yarl (16) went to pick up some siblings at a house in Kansas City. He knocked on the door. It was the incorrect home - his siblings were not there. The homeowner shot him through the window. Then he shot Yarl a second time. Somehow, Yarl survived. Police responded to the gunshot reports and got treatment for Yarl. The homeowner is already out of jail, pending more evidence. Oh, the homeowner is white. Absolutely tragic case. I’m mostly posting a thread on it because I want to be reminded to keep up with the case. Will Yarl recover? Will the homeowner go to jail? How does this happen? Why does everything suck so bad? > **[A teenager was shot by a homeowner after going to the wrong house to pick up...](https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/17/us/kansas-city-teen-shot-wrong-house/index.html)** > > Protesters took to the streets after a homeowner shot and wounded a teenager who had gone to the wrong home to pick up his siblings in Kansas City, Missouri, police said Sunday. The kid was a section leader in band, and on the Science Olympiad team. This is the kind of kid I was. This kid was helping out his family, and paid a huge price, because of guns. Goddammit. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/2 "2023-04-17T16:03:14Z")
Is merely being on someone’s property enough to trigger self-defense laws in Missouri? I thought the person has to actually demonstrate that they pose some form of threat. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/3 "2023-04-17T16:12:39Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I thought the person has to actually demonstrate that they pose some form of threat. Walking while Black. > **[The City by John Backderf for July 21, 2022 | GoComics.com](https://www.gocomics.com/thecity/2022/07/21)** > > July 21, 2022 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/4 "2023-04-17T16:31:35Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I thought the person has to actually demonstrate that they pose some form of threat. Missouri has a “stand your ground” doctrine which apparently extends to front doors. This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. > **[Killing of Yoshihiro Hattori](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Yoshihiro_Hattori)** > > Yoshihiro Hattori (服部 剛丈, Hattori Yoshihiro, November 22, 1975 – October 17, 1992, often referred to as Yoshi Hattori) was a Japanese student on an exchange program to the United States who was shot to death in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The shooting happened when Hattori, on his way to a Halloween party, went to the wrong house by mistake. Property owner Rodney Peairs (/piːrz/) fatally shot Hattori, erroneously thinking that he was trespassing with criminal intent. The killing and Peairs' tri Pea... ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/5 "2023-04-17T22:10:32Z")
CNN is reporting that the shooter is facing two felony counts (ETA: and that the accused is 85 y/o). ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/6 "2023-04-17T22:32:17Z")
Sitting here watching the reactions to the [Jayland Walker](https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/local/2023/04/17/grand-jury-decision-in-jayland-walker-akron-police-shooting-case/70102616007/) case here in Akron. Unarmed Black man shot 46 times by police last fall. The 8 officers involved will not be charged. Not related but also…very related. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/7 "2023-04-17T22:59:41Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > The kid was a section leader in band, and on the Science Olympiad team. This is the kind of kid I was. This kid was helping out his family, and paid a huge price, because of guns. Goddammit. When people on this board argue against any kind of sane gun control this is what they are ok with, black kids shot in the head for knocking on a white man’s door. That is the price of their gun fetish and they are fine with it. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/8 "2023-04-17T23:03:17Z")
I heard a little of the prosecutor’s press conference on the radio on the way home from work today. 83 y/o white male was the shooter. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/9 "2023-04-17T23:26:05Z")
I am sick to my stomach about this. I saw the story on the evening news and it was a struggle not to start crying. What is wrong with a person that they would react this way to a person of color knocking on their front door? Clearly the media and certain politicians have succeeded in creating such a climate of fear toward “the other” that some white people think this is the default reaction. We are fucked. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/10 "2023-04-17T23:38:36Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Missouri has a “stand your ground” doctrine What I saw on the KC news said you have to be under eminent threat for “stand your ground”. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/11 "2023-04-17T23:38:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > When people on this board argue against any kind of sane gun control this is what they are ok with, black kids shot in the head for knocking on a white man’s door. That is the price of their gun fetish and they are fine with it. To some people, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/12 "2023-04-17T23:46:43Z")
Here’s the KC coverage. He’s looking at 3-15 for armed criminal action and life for assault. > **[Man charged with two felonies in shooting of Ralph Yarl](https://www.kctv5.com/2023/04/17/man-charged-with-two-felonies-shooting-ralph-yarl/)** > > An arrest warrant has been issued, and a bond has been set at $200,000. ETA: I hate to be morbid but in his case I’d go with Life… it’ll be shorter. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/13 "2023-04-18T00:11:36Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > To some people, that’s not a bug, it’s a feature. Sadly true. And they’re going to get away with it. Again. How disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/14 "2023-04-18T00:11:38Z")
It’s not unlikely that he might die of old age before the legal questions are even fully resolved. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/15 "2023-04-18T00:23:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > before the legal questions are even fully resolved. I don’t think there are any questions. > **[‘You can’t just shoot people who come to your door:’ MO’s self-defense laws...](https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article274401285.html)** > > A criminal defense expert said there’s still a lot to learn about the case of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl but the state law makes it clear that you can’t just shoot someone for coming to your door. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/16 "2023-04-18T00:24:59Z")
Gun fetishists like this shooter fantasize about the moment when they might get to actually kill a person with their beloved guns. They don’t, during their fantasy, picture a white person. When this young man walked up to the shooter’s door, all of his fantasy and NRA-fueled paranoia kicked in. His only thought was probably “This is my lucky day.” I’ll bet a milliontrillion dollars that he had that shitty SYG insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/17 "2023-04-18T00:30:32Z")
> [@dougrb](#): > > I don’t think there are any questions. I mean, there’s going to be a trial, and it’s inevitably going to go up a chain of appeals, and so on. The law is clear, but the defendant will try to claim that he wasn’t actually the shooter, or Yarl did something threatening other than just knocking on his door, or that he was mentally impaired, or whatever, and then a jury will have to evaluate those claims, and so on. It takes time, possibly more time than this guy has left. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/18 "2023-04-18T00:50:43Z")
Gun rights advocates will often mention as an argument that guns are important to allow someone old and frail to equalize their chances. However the irrational absolutists among them will not want something like loss of judgment/faculties to be counted as a “red flag”. My take, contrary to **Sicks\_Ate** , is probably this fellow was _not_ necessarily sating some “shrink, I wanna kill” blood thirst boner, but rather was whipped into a paranoid panic by RW media and social feeds, saw the black guy coming to the door and was “OMG Mildred, this is it they’re coming for us!!!” and Mildred was lucky to not get hit while at it. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/19 "2023-04-18T01:04:13Z")
Then my first paragraph may not stand, the other three agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803/20 "2023-04-18T01:37:05Z")
I think you got it @Chronos. I just watched the Mayor of KC, Quinton Lucas, being interviewed. He said he has read the charging statement and the most heinous part to him is that the defendant stated to police that he shot because he was scared by the black teenager at his door. Not because Ralph did or said anything threatening, **but because he simply existed while being black.** As I said above, we are fucked. Fear and hatred of the “other” appears to be the norm in parts of our country, if not everywhere in the U.S. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-shooting-of-ralph-yarl-in-kansas-city-he-knocked-on-the-wrong-door/982803.md?page=2)